Rangers vs. Hurricanes Game 3 prediction: NHL Playoff odds, picks

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. 

The Rangers have stuck to their guns with the same lineup and work ethic through their 6-0 record in the playoffs.

The almighty Hurricanes return to Raleigh, N.C. on Thursday night trailing 2-0 in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

New York has propelled itself to a +425 tri-favorite to hoist the Stanley Cup while the once-Category 5 Hurricanes have tumbled from the top of the board to the seventh-best odds at +900.

Rangers vs. Hurricanes odds

Rangers vs. Hurricanes prediction

Before Tuesday’s double-overtime thriller that concluded with Vincent Trocheck swatting the puck underneath Frederik Andersen, neither team had amassed 30 shots on goal in the four previous meetings. 

Carolina erupted for 57 shots on net and Igor Shesterkin rejected 54 of them. It was arguably the most prolific performance of the 28-year-old’s NHL career, and in case the NHL hadn’t reminded you, Shesterkin now owns 29 consecutive playoff games having allowed three goals or less. 

It’s the second-longest streak in NHL history behind Shesterkin’s backup, Jonathan Quick, and it spans back to the first round of the 2022 playoffs. 

So how could the Blueshirts have lost two series in that window with sound goaltending, both of which they had led 2-0, no less? What makes things any different against a stiff Hurricanes team?

The six-game loss to the Lightning in 2022 was merely a matter of experience; the Rangers were outmatched in resilience and adaptability, which were hard to fault them for while playing with house money.

Last year’s seven-game failure to the Devils was attributed to inconsistencies from the top of the lineup and defensive adjustments that exposed them. 

Despite Carolina dictating play from the third period on, the Hurricanes took uncharacteristic penalties and conceded the lead twice. The Rangers’ power play showed its gratitude with another pair of goals, now 4-for-9 on the series. 

Carolina’s league-leading penalty kill in the regular season has wilted from an 86.4 percent efficiency to 65 percent in the playoffs. In contrast, the Canes’ power play is getting in its own way; it’s so tense that it’s erased three man-advantages in two games by taking poor penalties.

It’s 0-for-10 against New York, and suddenly, special teams play is the X factor in a matchup that was supposed to be influenced by five-on-five prowess.

Unlike the past, these Rangers have had no outage of star power, either. Trocheck and Mika Zibanejad each have seven power-play points and combine for 21 overall. Seth Jarvis leads Carolina with eight, only one of which registered in this series. 

Another outstanding occurrence was Rod Brind’Amour rolling with nine forwards in overtime to Peter Laviolette’s 11.

It shows that a team’s true depth comes to the surface in real desperation. 

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Rangers vs. Hurricanes pick

Above all else, this series just comes down to goaltending. Andersen made some sharp saves in big moments, but he’s struggled with tracking the puck and is panicking with the puck beneath him.

This is all while Shesterkin’s premier play remains on autopilot. He’s making the extra save on rebounds, jumping on any loose pucks in front of him, and simply stopping anything he sees clean.

Brind’Amour knows it will take some pinball plays on his whiteboard to solve him.

It’s a different recipe in front of him this time around and Thursday night offers the vetted and poised Rangers a chance to prevent history from repeating itself. 

You could’ve called Game 2 a coin toss. With New York priced as long as +143 underdogs to win Game 3, I’d say that’s a pretty intriguing flip. 

PICK: Rangers ML (+143, BetRivers)